Seamus is an Irish Catholic poet and native of Northern Ireland living through the Troubles. Operating as the speaker of the text, he observes the intense political upheaval and militarized sectarianism dividing his home. He is deeply reflective and highly self-critical, wrestling with his own failure to actively protest the violence and the societal pressure to maintain a civil, silent exterior.

An unnamed British media representative who approaches the speaker for opinions "on the Irish thing." This journalist embodies the exploitative media presence in Northern Ireland, utilizing the suffering and violence of the local population to generate news copy without understanding the sectarian state.

Marie is a woman who meets Seamus while he attends St. Joseph’s Teacher Training College. She marries him in 1965, building a family with him as his literary career begins to flourish and he publishes his early poetry collections.

Robert is a fellow poet who recognizes the impact and importance of Seamus's literary contributions. He provides high praise for his contemporary's focus on Irish identity, specifically calling him the most important Irish poet since Yeats.